THE TIMES I HAD WITH TODD CHRISTENSEN.... I humbly pay my respects to BYU alum, Oakland/LA Raider Pro-Bowler tight-end, & ESPN announcer Todd Christensen. I met Todd Christensen a few times. 1st time I ever met him I was a student at Mississippi State, helping with the ESPN crew. Christensen was (trying very hard) kicking field goals before the game. He didnt say much to me, but he was nice when we spoke. The 2nd time I met him was a very odd tale. Mississippi State had won a game in dramatic fashion in 1999 (like every game they won that year having the best overall record in the SEC with a 10-2 final record, ranked #6 nationally, starting 8-0 on the season). The party was just getting started at the Pi Kappa Alpha house (where I was living at the time). Its shortly after midnight, & I was watching the west coast Pac-8/10/12 game, or the Hawaii game on TV (like I always do), & I hear this faint knock at the door. It was ESPNs Steve Levy (who hosts SportsCenter & does play-by-play). Levy still dressed up, asked if he can use my restroom. Being a Sport Communication major &working for free in TV at the time, having the host of SportsCenter wanting to use your can while standing in your room at the fraternity house was a bit surreal. Well following him in was Todd Christensen. We made small talk, both used the can (both washed their hands), & they hung out at the party of the Pike house that night. The 3rd time I met Christensen, was when I was full-time media member (post grad). I was the low man on the poll & had the assignments that no one wanted. Everyone was married & had kids, so I got most weekend gigs (which I loved.... I was getting paid to go to games!). Sly Croom was head coach in his 1st season & there again Todd Christensen was there to announce the game. I went up & introduced myself to him. Told him I worked with him in Starkville in 1996 at the UGA @ M-State game, & reminded him that he used my restroom. He chuckled, smiled, & told me that he just told someone that story earlier in the day. We shook hands, & that was it. That was the last time our paths crossed back in 2004. He seemed to be a fun guy, professional (most of the time other than kicking field goals) & maybe a bit stuck in the year 1983 with the mustache & hair, but always a nice guy to me, & seemed to be a gentlemen. He wasnt the best color-analyst for ESPN, but he did know his football & he loved the game. I always considered him one of the good guys. My prayers go out to him & his family.
Posted on: Wed, 13 Nov 2013 22:14:26 +0000
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